With millions of daily readers, Reddit’s r/politics is one of the most active and influential online communities for political news. It serves as a real-time forum where major headlines are shared and debated the moment they break. However, its fast-paced nature and strict rules often leave new users confused, leading to removed posts and even bans.
Many people dive into the subreddit expecting a free-for-all political debate, only to find their comments deleted or submissions rejected. This isn’t because the subreddit is broken; it’s because it operates more like a news aggregator than a traditional discussion forum.
This guide will neutrally explain how r/politics works, what its rules actually mean, and how you can participate safely and effectively. Understanding its structure is key to navigating Reddit’s complex political ecosystem without getting lost.
What Is r/politics?
At its core, r/politics is a subreddit dedicated to sharing and discussing news about United States politics. It is not a platform for personal opinions, memes, or activism. Think of it as a massive, user-curated news feed focused exclusively on the American political landscape.
Overview of the subreddit
Launched in 2007, r/politics has grown into a default community for millions of Reddit users. Its front page is often dominated by breaking news stories from established media outlets, covering everything from White House announcements to congressional actions and Supreme Court rulings.
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Why it gets millions of daily views
The subreddit’s immense traffic comes from its ability to centralize breaking news. Instead of checking multiple news sites, users can visit r/politics to see the most significant stories of the day as voted on by the community. This real-time aggregation makes it a powerful tool for staying informed.
What type of content is allowed
The subreddit strictly permits links to news articles about U.S. politics from a pre-approved list of sources. The content must be recent, factual, and directly related to American political events or figures. Self-posts, images, opinion pieces, and links to social media are generally not allowed as primary submissions.
Common misinformation about the subreddit
A frequent misconception is that r/politics is a place for open debate on any political topic. In reality, it is a news-sharing community. While discussions happen in the comment sections, the primary posts must adhere to rigid sourcing and formatting rules. Another misunderstanding is that moderators remove posts based on political viewpoint; removals are almost always due to rule violations, such as using a non-approved source or editorializing a headline.
r/politics Rules Explained (2025 Updated)
The rules of r/politics are designed to maintain its function as a news aggregator. Understanding them is the first step to successful participation.
No advocacy or electioneering
The subreddit is not a platform for promoting candidates, parties, or political campaigns. Posts that ask for votes, donations, or participation in a political cause are prohibited. The focus must remain on the news itself, not on persuading others.
No misinformation or unverifiable claims
Content must be grounded in fact and come from reliable sources. Conspiracy theories, unverified rumors, and claims without evidence are strictly forbidden to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Only news from approved sources
This is one of the most important rules. Submissions must link to articles from a specific list of media outlets that the moderators have vetted for journalistic standards. This list is extensive but excludes blogs, personal websites, and many opinion-focused publications.
No personal attacks or harassment
While political discussions can become heated, comments must remain civil. Personal attacks, threats, hate speech, and harassment directed at other users, public figures, or groups are not tolerated.
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Strict posting format rules
When submitting an article, the post title must match the original headline of the article exactly. Editorializing or adding your own spin to the title will result in the post’s removal.
Why many new users accidentally break rules
New users often break rules by sharing an interesting article from a non-approved source, posting a personal opinion as a text post, or changing a headline to make it more engaging. These actions, while common elsewhere on Reddit, are quick ways to have a post removed on r/politics.
What Gets Removed or Banned on r/politics?
Moderators and automated tools work around the clock to enforce the rules. Here are the most common reasons for post removals and user bans.
- Using non-approved news sources: Submitting a link from a blog, a YouTube video, or a news outlet not on the approved domain list.
- Sharing opinion-based content: Posting editorials, op-eds, or letters to the editor, which are considered opinion pieces, not news.
- Low-effort posts or memes: Images, memes, and short, unsubstantiated text posts are not allowed.
- Political spam or coordinated campaigns: Flooding the subreddit with posts from a single source or attempting to artificially push a specific narrative.
- Personal political rants: Text posts detailing a user’s personal political views or frustrations are not considered news and will be removed.
How r/politics Moderation Works
Moderation in a community of over 8 million members is a massive undertaking. It relies on a combination of human volunteers and automated systems.
Volunteer moderators & AutoMod
A team of volunteer moderators enforces the rules, reviews flagged content, and handles user appeals. They are supported by AutoModerator, a powerful bot that automatically removes content that violates clear-cut rules, such as posts from banned domains or titles that don’t match the article headline.
How rule violations are detected
Violations are found through a few key methods: AutoMod’s filters, user reports (clicking the “report” button), and active monitoring by the moderation team. Due to the high volume of content, user reports are crucial for identifying rule-breaking comments and posts.
Why some removals feel confusing to users
A user might see their post removed while another, seemingly similar post stays up. This can happen for subtle reasons. For example, the other post might be from an approved source, while theirs was not. Or, the other post may have used the exact headline, while theirs had a minor change.
Appeal process and limitations
If you believe your post or comment was removed in error, you can message the moderators to appeal the decision. However, due to the volume of appeals, responses may be slow, and decisions are often final, especially for clear rule violations.
Why r/politics Is So Influential
With its massive audience and rapid-fire content cycle, r/politics has a significant impact on online political discourse.
Millions of active readers per day
The subreddit is one of the most-viewed communities on Reddit, giving it the power to drive significant traffic to news articles and amplify certain stories into the mainstream conversation.
Real-time community reaction to breaking news
When a major political event occurs, the r/politics thread about it often becomes a central hub for real-time reactions and updates. This instant feedback loop provides a snapshot of public sentiment.
Why journalists monitor it
Journalists and political analysts often monitor r/politics to gauge public reaction to events and identify stories that are gaining traction online. It serves as an informal barometer of what politically-engaged internet users are talking about.
Impact on online political conversations
The stories that trend on r/politics often spill over onto other social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. This helps shape the broader narrative and determines which political topics get the most attention online.
The Most Common Topics on r/politics (Data-based)
Based on trending posts and community activity, several themes consistently dominate the subreddit.
- Policy debates: Discussions around healthcare, climate change, economic policy, and immigration.
- Government updates: News related to legislation in Congress, executive orders from the President, and federal agency actions.
- Supreme Court decisions: Analysis and reaction to major rulings from the nation’s highest court.
- Social issues: News touching on civil rights, reproductive rights, and criminal justice reform.
- International political events: Stories about foreign affairs that directly involve the United States.
How to Safely Participate in r/politics
To engage productively without running afoul of the rules, follow these simple guidelines.
- Stick to factual, sourced news: When commenting, refer to the article’s content. If you introduce new information, be prepared to cite a reliable source.
- Avoid emotional arguments: Focus on the substance of the news, not on attacking other users. Emotional, inflammatory comments are more likely to be reported and removed.
- Do not promote political campaigns: Refrain from any form of advocacy. Keep the discussion centered on policy and events, not on getting someone elected.
- Respect subreddit guidelines: Before posting or commenting, take a few minutes to read the rules in the subreddit’s sidebar.
- Avoid linking to unreliable sources: Do not use blogs, social media posts, or personal websites as evidence in a discussion.
Alternatives to r/politics for Balanced Political News
If the strict, news-focused environment of r/politics isn’t what you’re looking for, several other subreddits offer different approaches to political discussion.
- r/news and r/worldnews: These subreddits cover a broader range of topics beyond politics and have slightly different moderation standards.
- r/politicaldiscussion: This community is specifically designed for in-depth, good-faith discussion about politics, allowing text posts and more open-ended questions.
- r/moderatepolitics: This subreddit aims to foster a more centered and less partisan conversation, with a strong emphasis on civility and balanced perspectives.
r/politics vs r/politicaldiscussion — Key Differences
It’s easy to confuse these two, but they serve very different purposes.
| Feature | r/politics | r/politicaldiscussion |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | News aggregation | In-depth conversation |
| Allowed Posts | Links to approved news | Links and text posts |
| Moderation | Strict, focused on sources | Strict, focused on civility |
| Best For | Staying on top of breaking U.S. news | Exploring different viewpoints on issues |
Choosing the right subreddit depends on your goal. If you want the latest headlines, go to r/politics. If you want to talk about the ideas behind the headlines, go to r/politicaldiscussion.
FAQs
Why do posts get removed so often?
Posts are removed frequently for violating rules, most commonly for being from a non-approved source, having an altered headline, or being an opinion piece.
Can I post opinion articles?
No. Opinion pieces, editorials, and op-eds are not allowed as they do not meet the subreddit’s standard for fact-based news reporting.
Does r/politics have a political bias?
The subreddit’s content is user-submitted and user-voted. While the community has its own prevailing leanings, the moderation rules are applied neutrally based on sourcing and formatting, not political ideology.
What sources are allowed?
The subreddit maintains a public list of approved domains. It generally includes established national and international news organizations with a history of journalistic integrity.
How big is the subreddit?
As of 2025, r/politics has over 8 million subscribers, making it one of the largest and most active communities on Reddit.
Conclusion
r/politics is a powerful but often misunderstood community. It is not an open forum for all political expression but a tightly moderated news service driven by its users. By understanding its rules—especially those around approved sources and headline accuracy—you can use it as an effective tool for staying informed on U.S. politics.
For safe participation, focus on discussing the news presented and treat others with respect. And if you’re looking for a different kind of conversation, remember to explore alternative subreddits like r/politicaldiscussion that may better suit your interests.
